"Were not just clucking around"

Emergency Prepardness Survival Tips

Depending on where you live, will have a lot to do with what tips work best for you.

Water conservation

Even if you live on the farm or in the city if power goes out you may not be able to have water, so it is important to either buy bottled water or refill plastic containers with water from your well and store it. Rain barrels near gutters is ideal for gathering a large amount of water that can be used also. Dean and I made our own rain barrels. We bought 55 gallon drums from people on the side of the road selling them for $5.00- $8.00 get the ones with a screw on top. We then cut a piece of fine screen laid it on top screwed the lid on and put it under the gutters. The screen keeps the mosquitoes from laying the babies. Use the water in a reasonable time especially in the summer months. At Wal-Mart they have a blue one I believe 5 gallon water container we use these for drinking water as well as for flushing the toilet they don't take up a lot of room either.

We are looking to do some U-tube videos on this.

This water can be used for:

Flushing toilet Drinking water

Washing dishes Watering Animals

Washing your body Washing clothing (under garments)

Cooking with Watering plants

After washing clothes use the same water to bath in or flush the toilet.

When water is limited undergarments take little water to wash frequently to keep clean

Purchase Baby wipes these come in handy just for wiping hands and private areas when bathing is limited. The folks in New Orleans could have really used these.

Rice (white) Brown Rice has more oil in it and will go rancid over time, unlike white rice.

Beans

Noodles

Crackers

These items listed below can easily be picked up at fastfood restaurants just be sure to ask for them. You'd be surprised how fast they add up.

Mayonnaise in individual packets (need no refrigeration) can be found at Sams Club.

Sugar

Ketchup

Mustard

Soy Sauce

Fortune Cookies

Salt and Pepper

Vinegar

Storing these items in old Tupperware containers that can be picked up cheap at yard sales is a great way to keep items fresher and also keeps mice out of them.

Lights

Flash lights even provide one for each child. Some are available now in Disney Characters.

Flash lights that you shake never have to replace batteries. We love these!

Flash light for your forehead. Many hunters use these. This free's up your hands. Very affordable, I bought ours at WalMart.

DON'T forget to have plenty of batteries. Check them frequently to see that they still work.

Coleman propane lanterns. DON'T forget extra propane tanks.

Oil lamps DON'T forget extra Wicks and a lighter or matches

Candles

Just a thought you might want to test how many hours of light each of these above items will give you.

Heat Source

Ask yourself not if, but when will the power go out whether it be from a thunderstorm, hurricane, earthquake that takes down a tree limb that hits a power line or ice build up from sleet from a winter storm or even a car accident that involves a power pole, this will leave you without a heat source unless you have Gas logs, wood fireplace, generator or a kerosene heater. The kerosene heater is the least of my choices I would advise because they have been known to be the cause of many house fires.

Save your lint from your dryer if you use one. This makes a great fire starter when lit by a match.

Save used up Brillo pads. These also are a good fire starter. We keep ours after they are dry in an old Aluminum can.

Always have extra blankets around just for this reason. Keep in car also.

Pick up some heater packs in the hunting area of Wal-Mart these are small and fit right into your gloves or boots but they will keep those areas nice and warm for awhile

Having a generator is important but not everyone can afford one

Gas logs are affordable and dependable

Wood is always available for fire places its important to have some dry wood already to go. You will need to have some kindling and matches (kept in a dry place), long lighter and plenty of rolled up newspaper logs

Medical stuff

Here is a brief list of over the counter meds I would keep on hand.

* I have been getting dried herbs from www.frontiercoop.com I buy large bags. These come in Mylar bags that can be resealed with a clothes iron. Once I open it I put some in air tight glass jars and store them in a dark, cool place.

I have made several Herbal Tinctures. This is in preparation if medications are more difficult to come by. Several books I have read are as follows:

Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Life by Rosemary Gladstar ( I attended a Herbfest this past Oct.

Growing 101 Herbs that Heal by Tammi Hartung

These 2 books I resource the most at this time. I also don't buy my books new unless for my Kindle. You can find these on Ebay

3. Antibiotic cream or ointment ( Triple antibiotic) Bag of Balm is a great antiseptic ointment. Herbal ointments and salves are also a good choice to keep on hand. I get a Comfrey ointment from http://www.redmoonherbs.com/ along with some Tinctures.

4. Baby Aspirin 81mg chewable tablets for heart patients (possible heart attack) take at first sign of chest pain, only if you don't have a history of bleeding ulcers.

5. Bandaids and non-stick bandages

6. Several sizes of Ace bandages for sprains, available at The Dollar Store. Also at thrift stores you can find arm slings, wrist splints and Ankle splints. These are great to keep on hand in an Emergency Kit.

7. Waterless hand cleaner.

Do you take any medications?These are a number one priority

Keep them all together in one location for getting too them quickly.

Keep in a dry, dark container until the emergency is over.

Keep atleast a 30 day if not 90 day supply on hand. Most Dr.s will give you a 90 day supply, now your insurance isn't going to let you get it that far ahead but sometimes it maybe worth getting them anyhow out of pocket.

If you are diabetic and rely on Insulin you know you will need a way to keep your insulin cool but not frozen. Have plenty of syringes, alcohol wipes, band aids available and a heavy plastic container to dispose of your needles. Usually a laundry detergent bottle works well because of the heavy plastic used to make the container. A good container for holding diabetic supplies are a plastic pencil boxes that kids are using for school these days. These also make great first aid kits.

I would also suggest Ice packs that by squeezing they are activated and become cold. They are a one time only use and last for about 1 hour. An option to have to keep Insulin at a cooler temperature. Also good for injuries such as sprains or fractures.

Don't forget birth control pills. If you use condoms check for expiration dates and don't forget lubricant.

I suggest having a plastic tote that you can label to put everything in or another option would be to get a large backpack. It's easy to grab quickly if the need were to arise.

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Childrens Activity Box or B.O.B. (Bug out Bag)

Do take into consideration the age of your children when packing a activity box for your child.

Don't forget to pack some favorite snacks. Comfort foods can make a difference!

1. Crayons and coloring books.

2. Puzzles

3. Playing cards, Uno, Old Maids, Go Fish

4. Board games, Bingo set, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Dominos

5. Crossword puzzles

6. Reading books, Magazines for kids

7. Puzzle books, Word find, Picture find

8. Hand held electronic gadget. Just remember to stock up on extra batteries for it.

9. Favorite Toy, Pacifier, Storybook and Blankee a must !!!!!!!!!

10. Building Blocks, logs, Leggos

11. A journal for older children/teens.

Suggestion: Let your child help create a box for themselves. This opens an opportunity to explain why you are doing it and teaching about being prepared. This way when it does happen and it will happen its just a matter of when your child won't be quite as upset as they would be if nothing had been planned for the event. This also teaches responsibility.

If you have several children create a box with each one and put their name on it.

Adult B.O.B

Info to come soon!

Paper Items

Oh, Toilet Paper figure a roll per day per household of 4 people. Baby Wipes are a no brainer. Kotex, tampons both can also be used in medical kit to control bleeding of any wound.

I am working on making re-usable Peri-Pads and also re-usable toilet paper. More info. to come later. These will save lots of money, less to go in land field and will last for a very, very long time.